By "Dr." Dan Nero

One of the greatest innovations in modern technology was the movement from spoked wheels that blew apart when they failed to vulcanized rubber tires that only go flat on one side. Despite that leap, a flat tire will still leave you stranded in Murphys’ choice of places.

Don’t let them go flat. If you’re changing them over, make sure they haven’t leaked down over the summer. Your recommended air pressures are typically listed on the inside drivers door jam. A low tire can make a vehicle pull to one side, prematurely wear them, affect steering and on modern four wheel drive vehicles damage driveline components. It’s cheap to do and will save you money. When in doubt, go to a pro.

Carry a spare. More importantly, make sure you have a jack and know how to use it. Is your spare mounted under the truck on a hand crank winch? Have you ever used it? Do you think it might be seized? Will it work when you need it? (Remember: Crack the wheel nuts loose BEFORE you jack it up.)

Have a look at your tires when they come off your vehicle every year. Do you see any wear patterns? A Pro can answer this for you. Steering wear or even that time your Uncle Bob pulled you out of a ditch with his John Deere and bent something can affect tire wear. It means keeping you between the trees.

Winter tires are a fact of life out here. Don’t fool yourself. If you don’t have a set, find one. Preferably with rims. If you are going to change them over onto the same rims every year, store them properly. Wrap them in plastic and store them in a shady place. It will preserve the rubber and most importantly the tire guy won’t have to remove the water and sludge and mosquito larvae before working with them. A second set of rims will save you money twice a year due to balancing and mounting costs. (not to mention the stress on the tires from the removal machine.)

Winter means tire chains for some people. If you are carrying a set, practice using them. Try putting on one when you don’t need to (just to familiarize yourself with them). Do they fit good? Loose chains can make more problems than they solve. A bungee cord or two might help out.

If you are buying a set of winters, make sure you are replacing them with the same size of tire. Steering geometry being affected is only one of many reasons to do this.

Another point for those that are scrounging for tires, for cripes sakes don’t mix and match tire sizes on your four wheel drive. Just don’t. It’s expensive.

Remember, your tires are the last point of contact between You, your Car and the Planet Earth.